THE FOOT. 49 



deeper snows. General Harlan conducted a train 

 of two thousand camels of the mixed breed 

 a distance of three hundred and sixty miles, 

 " over the snow-clad summits of the Indian 

 Caucasus," in winter, with the loss of but a sin- 

 gle camel, and even that one was killed by an 

 accident unconnected with disease or fatigue, 

 though the campaign lasted seven months. 



The structure of the foot gives the animal a 

 peculiarly silent tread. The thunder which at a 

 distance announces the approach of a troop of 

 cavalry, does not herald the advance of a cara- 

 van ; and with high-bred maharis, whose voice 

 does not betray the march of a foraging party, 

 the Bedouin may surprise the most watchful 

 enemy. 



In mud, the footing of the camel is insecure. 

 The hind legs are little separated down to the 

 gambrel joint, but from this point they diverge 

 at a considerable angle, so that an ancient Ara- 

 bic poem compares the hinder feet to two water- 

 buckets borne upon a yoke, and the increased 

 breadth of base thus acquired contributes much 

 to the sure-footedness of the camel on dry 

 ground. 



Upon a wet and slippery soil, on the contrary, 

 the liability of the foot to slide is increased by 

 this arrangement ; and in case of such an acci- 

 dent, as the foot usually slides laterally, the hip 



